The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-09-10
QUAKERS IN INDIANA.
Their First Settlement in the West-Won-
derful Growth.

derful Growth.
The Society of Friends, or Quakers,
as they are usually called, instead of
diminishing in numbers in the locali-
ties in Indiana where it has always
been strong, is increasing more rapidly
than ever before. The Quaker of to-
day, however, is not the Quaker of ten,
fifteen and twenty years ago. The
original settlement in the Ohio Valley
came from Pennsylvania eighty years
ago, when the men wore hats of the
broadbrim style, fashioned after the
head covering brought from England
by William Penn. The sect arose
about the beginning of the seventeenth
century, with George Fox the founder.
There is tradition among them as to
how they received the name "Quakers."
AS it runs, George Fox in 1850, was
arrested and taken before the Justice
of the Peace in Derbyshire, and tried
for preaching his new doctrine. In
derision of his admonition to the JUS
tees to ''tremble at the word Of God,"
he was called a "quaker." This appella-
ton became general soon after that
time, though the followers of Fox then
took and still maintain the title of
"Society of Friends"
Richmond, in this State, was the first
settlement made in the West by the
Quakers, and it soon became the head
center Of the new colonies established
by the church. The annual conference
held there is known as the Indiana
Yearly Meeting. Thirty-five years ago
the representation at the meeting be-
came so large that it was deemed best
to establish the Western Yearly Meet
ing, which now has a membership of
5000, and embraces the northern part
of Michigan, the eastern half of Illinois
and the western half of Indiana. The
annual sessions are held at Plainfeld,
twelve miles west of Indianapolis, in
September of each year, and are at
tended by delegates from conferences
over all the world.
Several years ago there was great
disruption in the society on the ques-
ton of admitting organs and allowing
singing in the church. The difficulty
caused a division-the two factions be-
coming known as the Orthodox and the
Conservative Friends. The former ad-
vocate the idea of allowing instru-
mental and vocal music, and modern
notions in regard to dress, while the
latter hold to the customs of their fore
fathers. The orthodox division has
much the larger membership and after
long process by law they possess the
immense worshipping edifice at Plain
field, capable Of seating nearly 1000
people. Plainfeld possesses the only
original society of the orthodox Quak-
ers in the State. They hold their SER
vices in small brick structure three
miles south of the town. 1t is at their
meetings that the traditional Quaker
worship can be seen, the gathering is
composed of seventy plain men and
women; there is no carved pulpit, no
hired preacher, with dreary sermon; no
organ, no inattentive choir, no bread
and wine, no ushers and no collection
ox-nothing but plain benches and
silent worshippers, waiting for the
spirit to touch their hearts and open
their lips. The men always sit with
their hats on, partitioned off from the
women. The women are dressed in
plain drab, and wear the old-time
skuttle-shaped bonnets. The congre-
CATION of these "old fogies," as they
are termed by the fast" Quakers,
often sit in patient waiting an hour for
the spirit to move their hearts to utter
ance.
Monthly meetings maintain the disci-
pline of both divisions of the society.
They are made up of an aggregation
of several particular congregations. 1t
is the duty of these meetings to provide
for the keeping of the poor and the
education of their children; also, to
Judge of the sincerity and fitness of
persons desiring to be admitted to
membership. When any member has
been guilty of misconduct committee
is appointed by the meeting to visit
the offender to try to convince him of
his error and induce him to forsake it.
If they succeed he is retained in the
church; otherwise he is dismissed from
the society. 1t is seldom that any cere-
mony is held at the burial of any mem
her of the church. The women have
monthly, quarterly and yearly meetings
of their own, but they are without the
power of making rules. The members
of the conservative branch of this soci-
ETY. are bound by their principles to alb
stain entirely from profane and extrav-
agant entertainments; from excess in
eating or drinking; from public demon
strations; from the reading of useless
and frivolous books; from gaming of
every description; from engaging in
vain sports, such as hunting and shoot